Queen Elizabeth II Misses Church Due to ‘Heavy Cold’

Queen Elizabeth II views a portrait of herself by British artist Henry Ward which has been unveiled at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on Oct. 14, 2016, marking six decades of patronage to the British Red Cross. The Queen is the longest-serving patron of the charity, which supports people in crisis in the UK and overseas. Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II missed a traditional New Year’s Day church service Sunday because of the effects of a lingering cold.

Buckingham Palace said the queen “does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold.” There was no indication she is suffering from a more serious illness.

It was unusual for Elizabeth not to attend the service, long part of her New Year’s Day routine. The inclement weather may have been a contributing factor in her decision to stay indoors. It was cold with a steady rain in the Norfolk area 110 miles (175 kilometers) north of London where the queen maintains a private estate called Sandringham.

Elizabeth also missed the Christmas church service last week for the first time in decades. She is recuperating out of the public eye in one of her favorite homes.

The 90-year-old queen, the longest reigning monarch in British history, had earlier delayed her departure for Sandringham for the Christmas holidays because both she and her husband, Prince Philip, were suffering from intense colds.

Britain's Prince Philip, centre, leaves St Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate in Sandringham, eastern England, after attending a New Year's Day church service Sunday Jan. 1, 2017. Buckingham Palace said that Queen Elizabeth II will not be well enough to attend a New Year church service because of a lingering heavy cold. Joe Giddens/PA via AP